Ho‘owala‘au wa‘a - canoe talk.

Ha‘awina (lesson)

If Na Ho‘okele (steerers) use the same language for commands universally, there will be little or no confusion on the part of the paddlers. These commands can and should be used to familiarize the crew with the language. The same language used consistently also gives Ho‘okele (steerer) control of the canoe and used to the idea of giving commands.

UNE = pronounced OO-NAY. To “lever.”This is the action MUA (stroker and sometimes others) takes to help HO‘OKELE (steerer) turn the bow of the canoe going around the turn flag. This can be ANY movement of the paddle, from a J-stroke to paddling toward the hull. I have heard this term mis-pronounced UNI = OO-NEE. This word is not in the Hawaiian dictionary.

KAHI = pronounced, KAH-HEE. To “cut.”Holds the paddle still, blade “cutting” in the same line as the canoe. No “action” taken.

PAHI = pronounced PAH-HEE. Edge, the blade or knife edge.

These are commands that can be used by Ho`okele in the canoe.

HO‘OMAKAUKAU! = pronounced Hoh oh MAH cow cow. Get ready or get set! This can be whatever you think “get set” means. Paddle across the gunwales, or poised to plant the blade in the water or whatever.

KAU! = pronounced kah oo. Place (or plant) the blade!

If it’s training:HOE = pronounced ho aee. Paddle! And off you go.

If it’s racing:HUKI!!!!!!!!!! = pronounced hoo key. Pull, GET INTO IT!

All of the following terms are from either Hawaiian Dictionary by Pukui & Elbert or The Hawaiian Canoe by Tommy Holmes

Many of these terms have other meaning as well as allegorical meanings or Kaona (the hidden meaning) other than used here.

'e'e: get in the canoes

aloha: hello, goodbye

:

anuenue: rainbow

�

awa: harbor, port, cove

hanohano: glorious, dignified, worthy of praises

Hawai'i nei: alternate reference to Hawai'i; Lit. "this Hawai'i"

heihei wa'a: canoe race

ho'oama'a: train,work hard; practice

ho'okele: attention

ho'omakaukau: get ready

hoe wa'a: canoe paddler, or to paddle canoe

huki: pull, get into it

:

huli: to turn or flip over

ihope: backward

imua: forward

kahea: caller

kahuna kalaiwa'a: canoe builder/carver

kane: man

kau: place, plant the blade

:

Keneke Mokupuni: Kent Island

le'ale'a: fun

mahalo: thank you

mo'olelo: history

h

'ohana: family

'okole maluna: bottoms up!

paliuli: divine place

pilialoha: friendship

wahi paua: spiritual place wahine: woman

Hawaiian Voyaging Proverbs

Hana ka hoe, pa'a ka waha."Work the paddle, close the mouth."Shut up and paddle - something we should all remember (and

practice) while in the boat.

E kaupe aku no i ka hoe a ko mai. (319)"Put forward the paddle and draw it back."Go on with the task that is started and finish it.

E lauhoe mai na wa'a; i ke ka, i ka hoe; i ka hoe; i ke ka; pae aku ka 'aina. (327)"Everybody paddle the canoes together; bail and paddle; paddle and bail, and the shore is reached."Pitch in with a will,

everybody, and the work is quickly done.

Ha'ule i ka hope wa'a. (489)"Left in the aft of the canoe."Said of one who comes last or is tardy.

Komo mai kau mapuna hoe (1836)."Dip your paddle in."Join in the effort.

Ho'okahi ka 'ilau like ana (1068)."Wield the paddles together."Work together.

E lauhoe mai na wa'a; i ke ka, i ka hoe; i ka hoe, i ke ka; pae aku i ka 'aina (327)." Everybody paddle the canoes together; bail

and paddle, paddle and bail, and the shore will be reached."If everybody pitches in, the work is quickly done.

He po'e ho'opiha wa'a (897)."Canoe fillers."Useless people, like riders in a canoe who do nothing to help.

He hewa i Kapua ka 'auwa'a panana 'ole (1125)."The fleet of canoes without a compass landed at Kapua by mistake."Said of one

who is off his course, mentally or otherwise.

Ola i ke ahe lau makani (2483)."Life is in a gentle breath of wind." Said of a breeze on a hot day.

'A'ohe hana a Kauhikoa; ua kau ka wa'a i ke 'aki (139)."Kauhikoa has nothing more to do; his canoe is resting on the block."The work is

done.

Hawaiian Voyaging Proverbs: selected from Mary Kawena Pukui's 'Olelo No'eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings (Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 1983).